Cervical Cancer Screening: Attitudes and Behaviors of Young Asian American Women

• Published in: Journal of cancer education Vol. 26; no. 4; pp. 740 - 746
• Main Authors: Yoo, Grace J., Le, Mai Nhung, Vong, Stephen, Lagman, Regina, Lam, Amy G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer-Verlag 01.12.2011; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Asian Americans; Asian Americans - psychology; Attitude to Health; Attitudes; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cancer; Cancer Research; Cervical cancer; Early Detection of Cancer - psychology; Early Detection of Cancer - utilization; Female; Filipino Americans; Health Behavior; Health Insurance; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Korean Americans; Language Proficiency; Medical screening; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Risk Factors; San Francisco; Surveys and Questionnaires; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - ethnology; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - prevention & control; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - psychology; Vaginal Smears; Women; Young Adult; San Francisco; San Francisco; Cervical cancer screening; Filipino; Pap testing; Young Asian American women; Korean; Vietnamese
• ISSN: 0885-8195; 1543-0154
• DOI: 10.1007/s13187-011-0230-2

Compared to other racial/ethnic groups, Korean, Filipino, and Vietnamese American women experience high incidence rates of cervical cancer but low rates of cervical cancer screenings. This study examines the behaviors and attitudes towards screening in young Korean, Filipino, and Vietnamese American women ( n  = 304) in the San Francisco Bay Area. Results indicated Vietnamese American (OR = 2.51) and Filipino American (OR = 2.31) women had greater odds of ever having a Pap test than Korean American women. Those older (OR = 1.55), born in the USA (OR = 2.64), and those comfortable with the test (OR = 3.41) also had greater odds of ever having a Pap test. Correct knowledge of cervical cancer and the human papillomavirus did not significantly affect the odds of having a Pap test. Interventions to increase Pap testing in these populations should focus on increasing levels of comfort and should target those younger and foreign born.